Sonic & SEGA All-Stars Racing

[Barry the Nomad]

I've yet to see Opa Opa as well, but if it is better than Bonanza Bros. then... we are in for something great.

[Adamis]

With Opa-Opa, you get to choose between 3 weapons/upgrades (like in Fantasy Zone) and you can use it. I tried the bombs/missiles

[Nemain]

For those in the UK that did not get the game yet, Zavvi outlet on Ebay has all 3 home console versions for £25 each posted (not got the DS version though). Good deal if you ask me.

Link

@Shadzter: Haha, that's epic. Nice one!

I should have the game by the start of the next week. Quite hyped for it. Any word on PS3 framerate issues at all?

Edited February 26, 2010 by Nemain

[Cephrien]

The online is extremely well tailored-- but there's some really annoying collision glitches going on here and there.

Has anyone ever been squished randomly by a flipped over car?

-and then bumping into other racers just seems to be extremely dangerous. Especially when you're on a decline or a corkscrew.

-and then sometimes people will teleport under you somehow and send you flying and sometimes off the track.

Did I mention the racers that drive while they're cars are flipped over and they squish you randomly?

I'm confident that they'll patch this up though--

[Barry the Nomad]

With Opa-Opa, you get to choose between 3 weapons/upgrades (like in Fantasy Zone) and you can use it. I tried the bombs/missiles

Three ASMs in one? Opa Opa is our new god.

[JezMM]

Since this thread moves so fast I'll just post random thoughts on the game as I think of them...

Who else uses motion control on PS3? I kinda wish they had made the controls FULLY customisable. I wish I could use Square for items instead of X. My thumb feels more comfy there when using six-axis to steer. On the flipside though, the actual steering is great.

Edited February 26, 2010 by JezMM

[Glenn]

Glenn, would you like a job at Eurogamer, I think they need some review help!

Yes, please!

Oh, and to everybody who rushed to buy "Can You Feel The Sunshine?" from the in-game shop, add me to the list... I adore that track! Also I can't play any of the Final Fortress courses without listening to "E.G.G.M.A.N. (Instrumental)", mainly because it has a Speak-and-Spell sampled in it! Awesome retro win!

I must say, though, I'm slightly annoyed at all the Sonic content being from Sonic Heroes (well, the courses at least). Why is that? Will some of the DLC be from other games? I think a Soleanna Cup and a World Adventure Cup would be very welcome, especially since it would tie together all the current-generation Sonic games rather nicely! Or are Sonic Team still hanging their heads over Sonic the Hedgehog and Sonic Unleashed because some idiots gave 'em low review scores?

Played splitscreen PlayStation3 multiplayer earlier: framerate gets a bit wonky, but certainly not unplayable. Just be warned!

[Detective Shadzter]

For those in the UK that did not get the game yet, Zavvi outlet on Ebay has all 3 home console versions for £25 each posted (not got the DS version though). Good deal if you ask me.

Link

@Shadzter: Haha, that's epic. Nice one!

I should have the game by the start of the next week. Quite hyped for it. Any word on PS3 framerate issues at all?

From my experience today with Xbox 360 version and PS3 version the PS3 version seems to run smoother and looks better graphically, not by much but it does show slightly on the PS3 version, dont know if its anything to do with the PS3 version being the lead console during development. Any Xbox 360 frame-rate slowdown was very minor and very rare. I've yet to see any frame-rate slowdowns on PS3.

I'm not hating on Xbox 360 version or any version since I bought all 4 and am enjoying all of them, just something I've noticed between those 2 consoles in my experience with them.

Since this thread moves so fast I'll just post random thoughts on the game as I think of them...

Who else uses motion control on PS3? I kinda wish they had made the controls FULLY customisable. I wish I could use Square for items instead of X. My thumb feels more comfy there when using six-axis to steer. On the flipside though, the actual steering is great.

Just been playing PS3 version and forgot to try out the Six--Axis

[Vic Boss]

Hey S0L. Any chance we could ever seen an online Grand Prix mode, or maybe a Co-op mode of some sort?

Perhaps even include an online version of mission mode? Particular mission types of course. For example, those races where the loser falls out after a time limit.

I know I'd pay for it =).

Not to sound too demanding, but I hope this becomes a series. I would love to see Sonic and Sega All Stars Racing 2 someday =).

By the way, thanks for helping me out earlier.

Edited February 26, 2010 by II Sora II

[Barry the Nomad]

I must say, though, I'm slightly annoyed at all the Sonic content being from Sonic Heroes (well, the courses at least). Why is that? Will some of the DLC be from other games? I think a Soleanna Cup and a World Adventure Cup would be very welcome, especially since it would tie together all the current-generation Sonic games rather nicely! Or are Sonic Team still hanging their heads over Sonic the Hedgehog and Sonic Unleashed because some idiots gave 'em low review scores?

Well, S0L already stated that SST covered retro levels (Green Hill Zone and Scrap Brain Zone) so this game they decided to go with a different Sonic game as a source. Sonic '06 has already been represented in SST, with Silver and Blaze watching at the GHZ court and Eggman Mech's hanging out at SBZ court. With '06 being the failure that it was, you really can't blame Sumo for not featuring a Soleanna track or timeless NPC's like "Middle-aged man".

That leaves Sumo with SA1, SA2, Heroes and Unleashed. The current tracks, while Heroes derived, borrow many elements from SA1's Emerald Coast, Casinopolis and Final Egg. So really, SASAR tracks are SA1 and Heroes with a dash of Sonic 1.

As for Unleashed, I don't think it was skipped due to being rated low and being considered a bad game (which it is not), I think it is too new and while Unleashed is a lovely game, it really doesn't represent the look of the Sonic series as a whole as well as Heroes does.

Trust me, casual Sonic fans and general Sega fans would be saying "Greece?? Where's the checkered hills and palmtrees???"

Edited February 26, 2010 by Doctor Eggman

[Cephrien]

Hey S0L. Any chance we could ever seen an online Grand Prix mode, or maybe a Co-op mode of some sort?

Perhaps even include an online version of mission mode? Particular mission types of course. For example, those races where the loser falls out after a time limit.

I don't think a Grand Prix mode online would be necassary-- since you can just play back-to-back races anyway. Though a Co-Op mode sounds kind of cool~

I'd also like see some of those party modes online someday as well. o 3ob

Survival mode sounds like it can be okay-- as well as battle mode and king of the hill~

[Glenn]

Well, S0L already stated that SST covered retro levels (Green Hill Zone and Scrap Brain Zone) so this game they decided to go with a different Sonic game as a source. Sonic '06 has already been represented in SST, with Silver and Blaze watching at the GHZ court and Eggman Mech's hanging out at SBZ court. With '06 being the failure that it was, you really can't blame Sumo for not featuring a Soleanna track or timeless NPC's like "Middle-aged man".

That leaves Sumo with SA1, SA2, Heroes and Unleashed. The current tracks, while Heroes derived, borrow many elements from SA1's Emerald Coast, Casinopolis and Final Egg. So really, SASAR tracks are SA1 and Heroes with a dash of Sonic 1.

As for Unleashed, I don't think it was skipped due to being rated low and being considered a bad game (which it is not), I think it is too new and while Unleashed is a lovely game, it really doesn't represent the look of the Sonic series as a whole as well as Heroes does.

Trust me, casual Sonic fans and general Sega fans would be saying "Greece?? Where's the checkered hills and palmtrees???"

Good points, of course. Not having played SEGA Superstars Tennis (much to my annoyance) I can't comment and/or didn't know about Green Hill and Scrap Brain making an appearance. And although I would have chuckled at "Middle-Aged Man" being a racer (or what about Sonic-Man? Boy, was he a retard) I can see your point.

That's why I'm hoping for some new DLC appearing later for the Sonic fans amongst us. At the very least, Sonic Unleashed would be ace (you're right, it is a lovely game, isn't it? I adore it)... can you imagine a track up and down the arms of Perfect Dark Gaia/Light Gaia Collosus? Or perhaps a new All-Star Move for Dr. Eggman to make him become the Egg Dragoon?! I'm sure I don't have to be cheesy as heck here and say "Endless Possibility", do I...?!

Still, as I said, good points and thanks for that. I understand a little more now, and badly wanna play SEGA Superstars Tennis...!

[Detective Shadzter]

Hey S0L. Any chance we could ever seen an online Grand Prix mode, or maybe a Co-op mode of some sort?

I doubt a Grand Prix mode online would work very well, the PS3 and Xbox 360 versions of SST had online tournament modes and even when they first released when online was fairly busy you could never get enough people together. I tried many times with my PS3 version right up to when online became dead and not once did I ever get a tournament together.

[-Mark-]

I just noticed that the DS version is compatible with the DS Rumble Pak.

Great, now I want to buy one to try it out. >.>

[Detective Shadzter]

I just noticed that the DS version is compatible with the DS Rumble Pak.

Great, now I want to buy one to try it out. >.>

Yep, I've been playing with my wife's vibrator rumble pak and its awesome. I've been praising S0L for making it compatible with the game for the past how many pages XD S0L also said SST is compatible with it too though on the back cover of it I've seen in stores it doesnt have the icon for it like this game does.

[-Mark-]

Have you got an official rumble pak or not?

I've heard the unofficial ones are a bit shit, but that the official ones stick out of the slot a bit?

Also official ones seem to be a bit hard to get hold of.

[Detective Shadzter]

Have you got an official rumble pak or not?

I've heard the unofficial ones are a bit shit, but that the official ones stick out of the slot a bit?

Also official ones seem to be a bit hard to get hold of.

Its the official one we've got, it was bundled with Actionloop.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Actionloop-Rumble-Pak-Nintendo-DS/dp/B000ERVMII/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=videogames&qid=1267222581&sr=8-1

Like GBA games it sticks out a little when used in a DS Lite which my wife has. Fits snug as a bug in the original DS I've got.

EDIT: Ebay has quite a few listings for Actionloop -

http://shop.ebay.co.uk/?_from=R40&_trksid=p3907.m38.l1313&_nkw=actionloop&_sacat=See-All-Categories

[Carbo]

So there was this funny AI screw on Highway Zero at the moment with all the middle curbs where Amigo got stuck while being in the first place. I do a lap, come back way ahead in the first place and I notice he's still stuck until he All-Stars his way out of the dilemma but it doesnt affect me at all.

Edited February 26, 2010 by Columind

[CNash]

Highway Zero... let me guess, near the end, where there are small barriers dotted along the middle of the track? Yeah, the AI don't quite know what to make of those.

[Doctor MK]

Highway Zero... let me guess, near the end, where there are small barriers dotted along the middle of the track? Yeah, the AI don't quite know what to make of those.

Ugh I hate that bit of the track! It's the most insignificant feature, yet it can totally mess you up!

[Detective Shadzter]

S0L's been standing up for himself and the guys at Sumo Digital in the comments section of the 6/10 Eurogamer review -

Comments page 1

http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/sonic-and-sega-all-stars-racing-review/comments?comment_start=0

Comments page 2

http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/sonic-and-sega-all-stars-racing-review/comments?comment_start=50

Wow - a 6

Seems we've managed to make a marmite game!

If you can't get around the Monkey Ball tracks - you are very obviously doing it wrong. You wouldn't believe the time we spent honing those to work nicely!

No mention of 4 player support in splitscreen either? I can pretty much count on one hand the amount of games that allow this on PS3/360. On the extra game modes in Split-screen outside of straight races.

No mention of the character specific special moves, that we introduced as an alternative hate inducing Blue shell, yet still allow less able players to compete.

Or indeed mention that whilst yes, we do have a straight firing projectile and a homing projectile, there are also some very new ones for this genre, or that the weapon system actually does have a proper paper scissor stone. Gonna get missiled, pop a shild, blind fire back, use the horn area effect. Got a triple item, hold the button for alt fire modes, or push back on the stick to fire some backwards too.

No mention that once you've mastered the drift and trick system, you can attempt to combo these into a lovely long chain and find a super satisfying race system that especially rewarded when competing for Time Trial times.

Or the fact you can use the SEGA miles to ignore single player completely and unlock all the extra content in Multiplayer - one of the big issues that pretty much every party game going has had.

Come on guys, we've really put the effort into making this, and we get a one page review that doesn't even cover the game features, you know the things your readers care about, or you know, spent a little effort seeing how this has a very different feel from Mario Kart.

My review of Eurogamers review - 6/10 could try harder (sorry Dan!)

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S0L

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I agree with him, the review was shit. No mention of the features, just mario kart comparisons and ignorance. 1 page for a big game like this? Its an insult.

[KS8_Wiiloveit]

Good comments from S0L. Cheers!

I just heard a video play 'A New Day' in the background. seriously? I'm a big fan of the music selection but that is NOT a good choice. That spot should've been replaced by a stronger Sonic song that works well or even another Monkey Ball song for that matter (since those are addicting). So many better choices.

[Jolt]

S0L's All-Star Move: Xtreme Pwnage.

Doctor Eggman, you said that you raced against spanish players. It was laggy or something like that? I have friends on America, so I'm very interested on this.

[Carbo]

I have to hand it to this game

What this game lacks in the whole MK Wii 150cc hellfest it makes up for it in the final cup

Oh my god you guys must have been insane on crack doing the Super Monkey Ball level

I dont know whether to find it an awesome challenge or rage

[Gamerguy21]

Ha ha, way to go, S0L! XD

Nice to know you won't just take a poorly written review like that without letting them know how bad it was.